Acanthamoeba keratitis in contact lens wearers in a tertiary center of Tunisia, North Africa

Ben Abdesslem Nadia; Mahjoub Anis; Seghaier Mohamed Ali; Mahjoub Ahmed; Romdhani Sana; Ghorbel Mohamed; Mahjoub Hechemi; Knani Leila; Krifa Fethi

doi:10.1016/j.amsu.2021.102834

Acanthamoeba keratitis in contact lens wearers in a tertiary center of Tunisia, North Africa

Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2021 Sep 13:70:102834. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2021.102834. eCollection 2021 Oct.

Authors

Ben Abdesslem Nadia¹, Mahjoub Anis¹, Seghaier Mohamed Ali¹, Mahjoub Ahmed¹, Romdhani Sana¹, Ghorbel Mohamed¹, Mahjoub Hechemi¹, Knani Leila¹, Krifa Fethi¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, Farhat Hached Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Sousse, 4000, Tunisia.

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the epidemiological and clinical features of Acanathamoeba keratitis AK and to assess the risk factors of this corneal infection in contact lens CL wearers in a tertiary center of Tunisia, North Africa.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective study between January 2008 and December 2019 in the ophthtalmology department of a referral center, Sousse, Tunisia. A review of the chart of 248 patients using CL and diagnosed with presumed infectious keratitis was done.Socio demographic, risk behaviors and microbiological findings in case of AK were analyzed. The mean follow-up was 18 months (1 month-4 years).

Results: AK was diagnosed in 29 cases (11.7% of contact lens wearers with infectious keratitis). These 29 cases were analyzed. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 33, 44 ± 26, 9 years. Almost of the patients (13; 44.82%) used soft monthly disposable contact lenses. Some risk behaviors related to contact lens wearing were found in our study like not washing and drying hands before CL wear, sleeping in CL, topping off, not respecting the adequate replacement frequency and showering or swimming in CL.After treatment, visual acuity improved only in 10 cases (34.48%), remained the same in 11 cases (37.93%) and worsened in 8 cases (27.58%).

Conclusion: Clinicians must suspect AK in each CL wearer with suggestive clinical signs to allow earlier treatment and better prognosis. Public prevention messages that encourage CL wearers to respect the hygiene rules should be broadly applicable to each person using any type of CL, to minimize the risk of AK.

Keywords: Acanthamoeba keratitis; Contact lenses; Corneal scraping; Risk behaviors.